Method and apparatus for hydrating cement and the like



Aug. 14, 1928. I 1,680,678

, E. P. HALLIBURTON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRATING CEMENT AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 9, 1926 h i E' PUMP T 6 l TANK o o o 7 M21 0 o o o 0 o o o o o 000 0 o 0o 13 I j L 2 PM p T 19 gwuewtoz- Mf W11 '2, as indicated, is provided Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PALMER HALLIBURTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRATING CEMENT AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 9, 1926. Serial No. 128,300.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for mixing comminuted solid materials with a liquid, and refers particularly to a method and apparatus for mixing water or other liquid with hydraulic cement or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide'a method and apparatus for mixing comminuted solid materials with a liquid, which method and apparatus can be more accurately controlled than those now in use. More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which, when desired, the mixed materials may be re-circulated through the mixing means or steps in case a complete mixture of the proper or desired consistency is not originally obtained.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for more accurately controlling the discharge of the mixed materials from the mixing zone to thereby secure a more complete control over the mixing operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for mixing materials by which the mixing may be conducted in a plurality of successively controlled mixing steps, designed to secure an exceptionally uniform and proper mix.

Various further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from a description of a preferred formof apparatus embodying the invention, and from a description of the preferred method embodying the invention and carried out in said referred apparatus.

Re erence is theretofore made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

F1gure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a mixing apparatus embodying the present invention, certain parts being in vertical section; and V 7 Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The drawings illustrate a type of apparatus particularly designed and intended for use in mixing cement for the purpose of cementing oil wells. The apparatus is shown as preferably comprising a source of fluid or liquid supply, such as the water storage tank 2. Such water storage tank with a line 3, including a pump 4, which line 3 is indicated as terminating in a nozzle 5 or jet pipe.

The jet pipe 5 is positioned so as to direct'a jet of fluid from the tank 2 by the discharge opening 7 of a hopper 6 of frustoconical shape. In the specific embodiment of the invention shown, the jet pipe 5 is illustrated as positioned axially with respect to the frusto-conical hopper 6, so as to discharge the fluid through the discharge outlet 7 of said hopper, but it is understood that by positioning the jet pipe 5 closely adjacent the opening 7, so that the jet itself will pass across the face of the opening 7, similar results may be obtained. The jet pipe 5 is illustrated as supported in position by a spider 8 supported by the frusto-conical hopper 6. It is understood that this jet pipe 5 may be vertically adjustable so that the end of the pipe '5 may be positioned at any point from which it may form a jet which will produce a suction on the discharge opening 7 of the hopper 6.

The hopper fi'discharges into an enlarged chamber 9 indicated as preferably formed by a cylindrical container 10, fixed to the hopper 6, and provided with numerous perforations 11 in. its cylindrical wall. Said mixing chamber 9 is designed to be of sufficient size to hold a substantial mass of materials which are being mixed, and provided with the comparatively small perforations or apertures 11 which constitute its sole outlet. Preferably, means are provided for regulating and varying the available discharge area from thevmixing chamber 9. As a preferred form of said means, I have indicated a shutter cylinder 12 as fitted around the cylinder 10, the shutter cylinder 12 being provided with perforations or apertures 13 corresponding to those of the cylinder 10. The hopper 6 and its attached cylinder 10 are journaled in the shutter cylinder 12 so that by rotation of these parts, the apertures 11 and 13 may be aligned or closed, or partially closed, as desired.

Preferably, material from the mixing chamber 9 is dischargedinto a supplemental mixing chamber ll, which is indicated asformed by an enlarged tank 15, with the mixing chamber 9 set at oneside and with1n said tank 15. The tank 15 may be of any desired shape or construction, and is pref erably provided, with a gate 16 which may be opened to feed further materials into the mass being mixed, or for the urpose of observing the character of materials within the tank 15. Said tank is also preferably provided with means for agitating the mass of materials therein, said means being indicated as preferably in the form of a mechanically driven screwpropeller 17.

The tank 15 is connected to a suitable pump 18 by means of a line 19, which pump 18 is illustrated as adapted to draw the material from the tank 15 and force the same through the line 19' into the place of use, which, when the apparatus is employed for cementing wells, constitutes the well casing 20 of such well. The line 19 is indicated as communicating with a re-circulating line 21 provided with suitable valves by which, if desired, the materials from the tank 15 may be all or in part recirculated through the jet pipe 5 of the mixing apparatus.

When the apparatus thus described is to be utilized for forming a plastic mix of cement for oil well uses, it is operated as follows: Water from the tank 2 is continually drawn by the pump 4 and forced under high pressure through the jet pipe 5 so as to produce a rapidly moving stream of water passing through the opening 7 of the hopper 6. At the same time, said hopper Gis preferably kept substantially full of dry cement. The high velocity stream or current of this water creates a region of suction or of reduced pressure, which tends to draw the pement from the hopper 6 and pass the same with the water in regulated proportions into the mixing chamber 9. The stream of materials thus passing into the mixing chamber 9 in operation meets a mass of materials previously projected into the chamber, with a result that the kinetic energy of the materials entering the chamber 9 operates to agitate thoroughly the contents of the mixing chamber and to impose a pressure upon the contents of the mixing chamber. This pres sure urges the materials within the mixing chamber 9 to discharge through the perforations or apertures 11. The discharge openings from the mixing chamber 9 being of small size, all the materials escaping from said mixing chamber 9 are subjected to a further mixing action in passing from said mixing chamber 9 in the form of a multiplicity of small rapidly moving streams. The mixing action here may be controlled by partially closing the apertures 11 by rotation of the chamber 10 forming the mixing chamber relative to the shutter cylinder 12.

The mixture entering the supplemental mixing chamber 14 is then subjected to a further mixing action, at which time, if desired, further materials may be admitted through the gate 16 to slightly modify the character of the mixture, after which the ingredients are normally taken through the line 19 and passed down the well casing 20. At times, particularly in initially starting the apparatus, an insufiicient mix may be formed, in which case all of the materials may be recirculated by the re-circulating line 21 back through the entire mixing operations. In addition, during the time the mixture is being passed to the well casing 20, part of the mixture may be re-circulated through the jet pipe 5 and the remainder of the mixing apparatus to still further secure a more homogcnous or a thicker mixture.

A further advantage of the present mixing apparatus and method resides in the ability of the mixing apparatus to be continually operated, even when it becomes necessary to shut off the discharge of the mixed materials to the source receiving the same, such as the well casing 20. The supplemental mixing chamber 14 provides a storage place for a substantial quantity of mixed material, and moreover the mixed material may be continuously re-circulated through the mixer when it is necessary to stop delivering the mixture to the casing 20. The screw propeller 17 operates at all times to prevent any settling of the bulk supply of the admixed materials and permits the maintenance of a substantial quantity of properly mixed materials without danger of said materials tending to settle.

While the particular form of the invention herein described is well adapted to carrying out the objects of thepresent invention, it is understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A method of producing a fluent mixture of cement and liquid, which comprises producing a high velocity stream or current of such liquid for creating a region of reduced pressure in a mixing chamber, depositing cement adjacent to sald chamber for permitting such stream or current of liquid to advance the cement in response to the action and in the presence of such reduced pressure, assing the materials to an enlarged chamer, and discharging materials therefrom in small streams.

2. The method of producing a fluent mixture of cement and liquid, which comprises producing a high velocity stream or current of said llquid for creating a region of reduced pressure in a mixing chamber, depositing the cement adjacent to said mixing chamber for permitting such stream or current of liquid to advance the cement in response to the action and in the presence of such reduced pressure, passing the materials to an enlarged mixing chamber in which they are agitated by the energy of such high velocity stream or current of liquid, and then ture of a cement and liqui which comprises producing a high velocity stream or current of said liquid to thereby create a region of reduced pressure, depositing cement adjacent to said region of reduced pressure whereby sponse to sald reduced pressure, passing the materials into a mixing chamber wherein the kinetic energy of the stream or current of said materials will impose additional mix/- ing action and a pressure on the mass of materials therein, and utilizing said pressure for discharging said materials from said mixing chamber in a plurality of restricted streams.

4. A mixer for producing a fluent cement grout, which includes a feed hopper, a jet pipe sitioned to discharge by the outlet of said eed hopper, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said jet pipe, a mixing chamber disposed to receive materials from said jet and hopper, and a pluralit of restricted outlets from said mixing 0 amber.

5. A mixer for producing a fluent cement grout, which includes a feed hopper, a jet pipe positioned to discharge by the outlet of said feed hopper, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said jet pipe, a mixing chamber disposed to receive materials from said jet and hopper, a plurality of restricted outlets from said mixing chamber, and means for varying the effective area of said outlets.

6. A mixer for producing a fluid cement to advance the cement in re-' mix, comprising a feed hopper, a jet pipe positioned to discharge by the oulet of said feed hopper, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said jet pipe, a mixing chamber positioned to receive the materials from said feed hopper and jet pipe, an outlet from said mixing chamber, and means for varying the effective area of said outlet.

7. A mixer for producing fluid. cement mix, comprising a feed ho per, a jet pipe positioned to discharge by t e outlet of said hopper, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said jet plpe, a mixing chamber 1 for receiving materials from sald hopper and said pet pipe and adapted for further agitation of said materials together through the energy of the velocity 0 the fluid from 'said jet pipe, an outlet from said mixing Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 2nd da of Au ER E P st 1926. I 'MER HALLIBURTON. 

